Critical mining: blockchain and bitcoin in contemporary art

Authors: Martín Nadal & César Escudero Andaluz

Keywords: Mining, Function, Failure, Environment, Economics, Retro

First 100 words: The bitcoin was originally conceived as an electronic decentralized system for capital transactions. Each node (user) has the same opportunities to get a reward when validating a collection of transactions (block). In recent years, this system has triggered a competitive struggle in which computing power is the most important variable for earning bitcoins. This involves the use of large computer farms using physical and environmental resources, creating a struggle that benefits only the owner of the most powerful and efficient technology. This text examines different examples of artworks based on blockchain technology, in particular how artistic practices are able to…